Kerala Christmas Cake / Plum Cake

Ingredients
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• All purpose flour - 2 cup
• Baking powder-1 tsp
• Baking soda- 1/4 tsp
• Cinnamon powder-1 pinch
• Nutmeg powder - 1 pinch
• Eggs - 4
• Vanilla essence -1 tsp
• Sugar- 1 1/2 cup
• Milk- 1/4 cup
• Rum/Brandy/Wine -  To soak dry fruits 
• Orange rind- 1 tsp
• Orange juice - 1/4 cup
•  Butter - 2 stick 
• Salt- 1 tsp
• Dry fruits (plum ,raisins, dates, apricots, figs ,tuty fruity, cranberries, sultanas) - 21/2 cup
• Nuts(cashew , almonds) - 3/4 cup

Method
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1. Preheat an oven at 350F (180C). 
2. Sieve together flour,salt,baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon powders 2 times.
3. Make caramel syrup by heating 3/4 cup (half) of sugar.When the sugar melts and becomes brown, add 1/4 cup water and mix well so as to form a thick caramel syrup. Allow it to cool completely. 
4. Soak dry fruits in rum/ brandy. 
5. Separate egg white and yolks.
6. In a clean bowl beat the egg whites with 1/4 cup sugar till soft peaks and keep aside.
7. In a large bowl add butter and remaining sugar and beat well.
8. Add 4 egg yolks one by one and vanilla essence and beat well.
9. Now gently fold in the dry ingredients little by little till no lumps are found.
10. Add 1/4 cup milk  if the batter becomes too thick.
11. Add the orange juice,orange rind and caramel syrup till it is incorporated well into the mixture.
12. Dust the soaked dry fruits with little flour and add to the  batter.
13. Add chopped nuts and fold gently. 
14. Gently fold in the beaten egg whites.
15. Pour the batter on a lightly greased dusted baking pan.
16. Garnish with the nuts of your choice. I used chopped cashews and almonds.
17. Bake for  1 hr 15 mins to 1 hr 30  mins.Check if the cake is done when a toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean.
18. Allow to cool and slice and enjoy.

Notes

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1. Bring the butter and egg to room temperature before preparing cake batter.
2. Instead of rum/brandy you can soak them in orange juice also
3. Soak dry fruits at least 1 week before preparing cake.The more time you soak ,the more taste the cake would be.
4. Dusting the dry fruits in flour before adding them to cake prevents them from sinking to the bottom.
5. gently brush the cake with rum or brandy after  it is done.This adds taste to the cake.
6. You can keep the cake outside for 1 week or refrigerate it and use longer.for this gently wrap in aluminium foil and store.